Black-sand-separating machine.



APPLICATION FILED 0 0T.6, 1909.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. M. BURCH. BLACK SAND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED O0T.6, 1909. 1,017,506. Patented Feb. 13,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

(Ill

J. M. BURCH. BLACK SAND'SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00'I'.6, 1909. I 1,017,506. Patented Feb. 13,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

wanna Who? J. M. BURCH. BLACK SAND SEPARATING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED00T.6, 1909.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT v OFFICE.

JACOB M. BURCH, or WALLACE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOB OFbNE-FOUBTH T0 JOHN LAFOBS,

or WALLACE, IDAHO. v a

BLAGK-SAND-SEPARATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13,1912.

Application filed October 6, 1909. Serial No. 521,417.

To all whom it may concern: I

- Be it known that I, JAooB M. Burton, a citizen of the United States,residing at allace, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, haveinvented a new and useful Black-Sand-Separating Machine, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine designed for use in connection withplacer mining operations and dredge work for separating the black sandand all its values in precious minerals from the earth and wastematerials usually discharged therewith from the sluice box and lost.

The invention has for one of its objects to a provide an improved"sluice box having novel means arranged at different points foreffectively removing the black sand by means means of gratings .orgrizzlies and collecting'chambers located thereunder from which chambersthe separated precious metals and minerals can be drawn off in the mostadvantageous condition for treatment in a concentrator or other suitablemachine.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a sluice trough made up ofsections located successively at lower levels and con- "nected together.by fall sections which are disposed at a greater inclination to thehorizontal than the others, each section being provided with an openinglocated close to its tail end and covered by a grizzly, downwardlythrough which the black sand passes to the collecting chamberthereunder.By thus dividing the trough into sectionsdisposed at differentinclinations, the flow along the very bottom where one-sectiondischarges into another, is slower than at other points, and hence theblack sand has a better chance to pass through the grizzlies than itwould if, the water'rushed swiftly over the grizzlies, carrying the sandwith it, as wouldbe the case in a straight trough. I

A further object is to provide means for keeping the grizzlies clean andat the, same time maintaining the black sand in such form that it can bereadily drawn off, as for instance, by means of a siphon or othersuction device. I

With these objects in view and others, as vill appear as the descriptionproceeds, the invention'comprises .the variousnovel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which .willbe more fully describedhereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appendedhereto.

In the accompan ing drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 is a side view of the improved apparatus withintermediate portions of the sluice trough broken away. Fig.12 is anenlarged side elevation showing ends of two sections of the sluicetrough connected by a fall section, together with the black sandseparating and discharging means. Fig. 3 is a' central longitudinalsection taken through a portion of thesluice trough. Fig. 4 is atransverse section on line H, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of aportionof the sluice trough at the juncture of a fall section and the twoadjacentseethe adjacent.

tions. Figs. 6 and 7 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of oneportion of the grizzly. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of thegrizzly. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional ,to designate corresponding partsthroughout the views.

Q Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, Adesignates the ordi- .nary sluice box which overflows into the sluicetrough designated generally by B, in which the separation of the blacksand from the earth and waste material takes place,

the said trough being composed of any number of sections 1, 2 and 3,arranged almost horizontally .and successively at lower levels andconnected together to form a continuous channel for the water, theadjacent sections being connected together by a fall section 4 which is,in practice, arranged so as to provide approximately a ten-degree fall.

At the tail end of each main section of the trough is arranged a blacksand separating and collecting devices designated gen-- erally by C, andalso. at the tail end of each fall section is arranged a black sandseparating and collecting device designated generally by D, said devicesbeing substantially the same so that a description of ,one.

will suifice for both. Inthe bottom of the trough, whichlatteris'V-shaped in cross section, is arranged an opening formed bycutting a right triangular recess in the bottom edge of each side 6 ofthe trough, and the recess of one side is disposed opposite that of theother, so that both recesses cooperate to form an approximatelyequilateral triangular opening, asshown in Fig. 5. In this is fitted ais fitted a glass or other well 9 into which the black sand containingthe precious metals and minerals settles. In order to further preventany danger of the grizzly becoming clogged, means is provided forspraying water upon the under surface of the grizzl to thereby keepjhespaces between the bars of the grizzly clear, and this water also servesto prevent the black sand from becoming too thick to be effectivelydrawn off from the collecting well. For

' this purpose, each main section of the trough has openings orports 10at opposite sides and at a normal level of the water in the trough, sothat water can overflow through these 0 enings and be conducted to thegrizzly. t the openings are arranged valve boxes 11, each of which isprovidedat its lower end with a pair of valves 12 and 13 that areconnected, respectively, by pipes 14 and 15 with the collecting chambersor boxes8 of each main section and adjacent fall section of the trough,so that one water feeding means will serve for each pair of black sandseparating and collecting devices G. and D1 The discharge ends of thepipes 14 and 15 lead into the boxes 8 from the sides thereof anddischarge against the grizzly, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The

valves 12 and 13 can be so regulated that the separated black sand willbe sutficiently thinned by the water to be readily removed from thecollecting wells 10.-

Any suitable means may be employed for drawing off the sand containingwater from the well, as for instance a siphon 16 may be employed foreach collecting well, the suction end of the siphon being extendedthrough oneside of the box: 8 and depending into the well thereof, whilethe outer end or discharge arm of the siphon extends below the bottom ofthe well and is equipped with a valve 17 for controlling the feed. 'Thisvalve consists of a swinging plate '18 pivoted at 19 on a bracket 20carried by the siphon, and on the pivot is a spring 21 which holds thevalve plate against the bracket. The valve plate has ports 22 and 23 ofdifferent size, so that when either is brought into register with theoutlet end of the siphon, the feed will be varied. The valve can also beused for cutting off the supply entirely when occasion requires bybringing the unported part of the valve plate over the end of thesiphon.

In each well box 8, is a valve for controlling the effective area ofdischarge of the grizzlybpening, according to the. amount of black sandpassing down the sluice trough. This valve 24 is of V-shaped crosssection to fit under the trough and it slides back and forthlongitudinally of the latter to cover and uncover the grizzly opening.On

the trough are guides 25 in which the 5 flanges or ribs 26 of the valveengage, and

connected with the valve is an operating rod 27 that extends out of thebox 8 through a stufiing box 28 and terminates in a handle 29. Bypushing the rod 27 inwardly, the

valve closes the grizzly opening, and by pulling it outwardly the valveis moved open.

Each grizzly is composed of two sections fitted together, and one ofsuch sections is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This section comprises atriangular frame 30 open at one side and having spaced bars 31 which areflat on their top faces and have their upper or head ends disposed flushwith the inner surfaces of the trough, as shown in 'Fig. 3, so thatmaterial can freely pass upon the grizzly. The grizzly bars. taperdownwardly in cross section so that the spaces between adjacent barsflare to thus prevent lodging of material between the bars, and,furthermore, the bars become narrower toward the tail ends so as toprovide diverging spaces in which stones cannot wedge as the current ofwater passing over the grizzly will assist in dislodging any materialthat might otherwise become wedged between the bars. The tail endsof thebars are raised above the frame 30 to prevent stones from striking theframe and lodging in the slots between the bars of the grizzly.

In fiat bottom sluice troughs, the rectangular form of grizzly shown inFigs. '12 to 14, inclusive, may be employed. This comprises arectangular frame 32 having bars is washed out of the sluice box A intothe sluice troughand the heavier black sand containing the gold, silver,platinum and the like, settles to the bottom as it is heavier than theother waste materials and is conducted down the trough along the verybottom, and when the grizzlies are reached, the black sand passes to alarge degree through the grizzlies into the well boxes from whichit isdrawn off by the sip'hons. By reason of'the' abrupt changein pitchbetween the tail end of each fall section of the trough and adjacentmain section, the flow of water along the bottom of the trough will becomparatively slowat the tail end of the section so that the passage ofthe sand through the grizzlies is facilitated, as

there is less tendency to sweep the black sandby. The number'ofgrizzlies and separating devices may be varied as conditions dictate, sothat by the time the discharge end of the sluice trough is reached, theblack sand will be to a great extent removed from theea-rth and wastematerials.

Such a machine as herein described can be applied to any .sluicebox'with only a small outlay, and afteronce installed, it requires verylittle repair or attention. The siphons which draw ofi the black sand,dischargeinto an appropriate means for conducting the sand toconcentrators.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection withthe'accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent tothose skilled in theartto which "the invention appertains, and while-I have described theprinciple of operation of the invention, together with the apparatuswhich I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire tohaveit understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and thatsuch changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of theclaimsappended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is I 1. Incombination, a continuous series ofsluice sections all declining in the-same direction, sections ofmoderate declination alternating directly with sharply decliningsections to constitute a series of alternating retarding and acceleratinsections, said series being free from uprislng portions in the path ofthe current, the declination and length of the accelerating sectionsbeing such as not to disturb the stratification, and collecting meansfor the'heavier material located in proximityto points of deflectionbetween the sections. V

2. In combination, a continuous series of sluice sections all decliningin the same direction, sections of moderate declination alternatingdirectly with sharply declining sections to constitute a series ofalternating retarding 'and accelerating sections, said series being freefrom uprising portions in the path of the current, the declinationandlength of the accelerating sections being such as not to disturb thestratification, and collecting 'retardingand accelerating sections, saidsesluice sections all declining in the same direction, sectlons ofmoderate declinatlon alternating directly with sharply decliningsectionsto constitute a series of alternating retarding and acceleratingsections, said series being free from uprising portions in the path ofthe current, the declination and 5 length of the accelerating sectionsbeing such as not to disturb the stratification and all of the sectionscontractin in width toward the bottom, and collecting means for y theheavier material located in the contracted bottom portion of thesections in proximity to points of deflection between the sections.

4. In combination, a continuous series of sluice sections all decliningin the same direction, sectionsof moderate declination alternatingdirectly with sharply declining sections to constitute a series ofalternating ries being free from HPIlSlIlg' portions in-the path of thecurrent, the declination and length of the accelerating sections beingsuch as not to disturb the stratification, grizzlies in proximity topoints of deflection between the sections, and receptacles for materialpassing through the grizzlies underriding such grizzlies. l

5. A sluice trough having separated declining sections'with connectingdeclining sections of greater pitch, all the sections being free fomuprising portions in the path of the current, grizzlies at the ends ofthe several trough sections, and means for conducting water from thetail ends of the separated sections of the trough to and discharging thesame beneath the grizzlies at the tail end of each main section and ofthe next adjacent intermediate section in order.

6. A sluice trough adapted to stratify a stream carrying materials ofdifferent specific gravities, said trough having an over- -fiow openingspaced from the bottom and adapted to receive water from thefnpper Istratum of the stream, means receiving directly from the stratifyingportion, and ineluding one ormore grizzlies for separating out theheaviest material, and means for delivering the water from the overflowopening up through the grizzlies.

7. A sluice trough adapted to stratify a and extending under the grizzlyfor receiving the cleaning water and collecting the material passingthrough the grizzly.

8. A sluice trough adapted to stratify a stream carrying materialsofdilierent specific gravities, said trough having anover- ,fiow openingspaced from the bottom and adapted to receive water from the upperstratum of the stream, a valve box extending over said opening, aplurality of means for receiving directly from the stratifying portionof the stream and including grizzlies for separating out the heaviestmaterials, and means for conductlng water from the valve box, anddelivering the water up through the grizzlies. w

9. A sluice trough adapted to gravitally separate heavier particles fromlighter particles and having an opening in its bottom, a grizzly mountedin the opening, a box secured to the outside of the trough and-extendingunder the grizzly, a'collecting wellmounted in the bottom of said boxand closed against; direct gravital discharge of concentrates collectedtherein, and siphonic means for drawing off the material from the saidwell, said siphonic means having its highest point lower than the waterlevel when water is flowing through the trough.

10. A sluice trough adapted to gravitally separate heavier particlesfrom lighter particles and having an opening in its bottom, a grizzlyset in said opening, a box secured. to the under side of the trough andextending under the grizzly, a collecting Well depending from the'bottomof said box and closed against the direct gravital discharge ofconcentrates collected threinfand means for withdrawing the contents ofthe well through the top of the same, said means being located below thelevel of and responsive to water flowing through the trough. 11. Asluice trough adapted to gravitally separate heavier particlesfrotn'lighter particles and having openingsin its bottom,material-separating means in the said openings, means for collectingmaterials passing through the first-mentioned means, said collectingmeans being closed against the direct gravital discharge of concentratesdeposited thereon, and a siphon for drawing off the material' from thelast-mentioned means, said siphon being provided with means forregulating the flow of the'materials and having its highest point belowthe level of water flowing through the trough.

12. A sluice trough adapted to gravitally opening and mounted to move inthe direction of the length of the sluice trough to;

cover or uncover the opening, said valve being housed in the collectingchamber.

13. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitallyseparateheavier particles from lighter particles and having an openingin its bottom, a grizzly set within the opening, a collecting chambercarried by the trough in underriding relation to the grizzly and closedagainst direct gravital discharge of concentrates collected therein,means fort he removal of the concentrates from the said collectingchamber, a slide valve mounted on the under side of the trough in closeunderriding relation to the grizzly for controlling the flow through theopening into the collecting chamber, said slide valve being housedwithin said collecting chamber, means for mounting the. Valve on thetrough, and means supported by the chamber for actuating the valve.

14. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitally separateheavier particles from lighter particles and having an opening in fitsbottom, a grizzly set in the opening, a collecting chamber carried bythe trough in underriding relation to the opening and the grizzlytherein and closed against the direct gravital discharge of con--centrates collected therein, means for the removal of the concentratesfrom the said collecting chamber, a slide valve mounted on the undersideof the trough and completely housed in and movable longitudinally of thechamber for controlling the flow through the grizzly, and a deviceconnected with the valve and extending through the chamber to theexterior thereof for operating said valve. I

15. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitally separateheavier particles from lighter particles and having its Sides inclinedand meeting at their lower edges and provided with registering openingsat said meeting edges, a grizzl .11- forming to and disposed in saidopenings, a collecting chamber in underriding relation to the grizzlyand closed against direct gravital discharge of concentrates reachingsaid chamber through the grizzly, means for the removal of suchconcentrates,avalve conforming to the shape of the trough and grizzlyand mounted on the sides of the trough, said valve being movablelongitudinally of the trough to vary the flow through the'grizzly, andmeans for actuating the valve.

16. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitally separateheavier particles from lighter particles and having its sides meeting atits lower edges and having an opening formed partly in both sides atsaid lower edges, a grizzly disposed in the opening, longitudinal guideson the sides of the trough above the opening provided with inturned ribsat their lower edges, a valve mounted on the trough and movablelongitudinally thereof to vary the flow through the grizzly, said vali ebeing provided at its upperedges with overhanging -ribs engaging theribs on the guides, a collecting chamber mounted on the trough under theopening thereof and inclosing the valve, and means connected with thevalveand extending out of the chamber for actuating the valve;

17. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitally separateheavier particles from lighter particles and having its walls inclinedand meeting at the bottom,

a each wall having at the lower edges an openingmatching a similaropening in the other wall, the openings being wide. at the up stream endand tapering toward the down stream end, and a grizzly having a frameconforming to the combined shape of the mating openings in the walls ofthe sluice trough and having bars extending I in the direction of thelength of the sluice trough from the wide end of the marginal frame tothe narrow end thereof, said grizzly terminating at a substantialdistance below the normal water level of the sluice trough to dischargefrom a lower stratumonly,

18. The combination of a sluice trough adapted to gravitall'y'separateheavier paringmatching a similar ope troughand having bars extending-inthe a direction of'the' length of the sluice trough from the wide endof. the marginal frame to the narrow end thereof, sald bars beingequally spaced apart with their head ends flush with and their tail endsraised above the top surface of the frame, said grizzly terminating asubstantial distance below the normal water level of the sluice troughtodischarge from alower stratum only.

' 19. The combination of a sluice trough,

adapted to gravitally separate heavier particles from lighter particlesand having a main section and a fall section formin a continuous bottomtherewith, the' said all section being disposed at a greater angle tothe horizontal than the mam section, grizzlies in the bottoms of bothsections at the lower ends thereof, collecting chambers secured to theunder side ofthe trough and extending under the ,grizzles, overflowboxes on the sides of the main sections of the trough, and conduitsleading-from said overflow boxes into both collecting chambers andhaving upturned discharge ends adjacent the grizzlies.

'In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed' my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB M. BURCH.

Witnesses: v H. LIEB,

FRANK ScHUL'rz.

